Press Archive

2017

May 2017

The Atlantic celebrates New Leaders for its exemplary record of recruiting and developing outstanding leaders of color, highlighting the success of New Leader principal Macquline King-Morris, head of Chicago’s Courtenay Language Arts Center school.

May 2017

A post on New America’s EdCentral blog argues that reductions to Title II, Part A in Congress’ FY17 budget will hurt students and schools, referencing New Leaders’ finding that 5 of the 13 states that have submitted ESSA plans have indicated an intention to use the Title II-A, 3 percent set aside for school leadership support.

May 2017

In an interview with The Principal Center, New Leaders CEO Jean Desravines explains what we have learned from preparing, supporting, and studying great principals, as laid out in our book Breakthrough Principals.

April 2017

In a post on the Minneapolis Comeback blog, Executive Director Al Fan cites New Leaders asan organization “paving new pathways for people of color.”

April 2017

In Education Week, a student from New Leader-led Envision Academy shares how her teachers draw connections to the real world to make her learning deeper and more meaningful.

April 2017

Brian Hassel of Public Impact references Breakthrough Principals, citing its finding that strong principals consistently cultivate teacher leadership,in an interview with New America.

April 2017

New Leaders is one of the organizations leading the charge in urging Congress to maintain Title II funding, reports Education Week.

April 2017

New Leader Nadia Lopez speaks to the New York Times about empowering kids to learn about the world Brownsville and applying what they learn to strengthen their community.

March 2017

In a blog post for Classroom Q&A in Education Week, New Leaders Chief Program Officer Jaime Aquino discusses what we learned about effective classroom implementation by studying principals successfully leading schools toward college and career readiness.

After Secretary DeVos visits Washington, D.C.’s Jefferson Middle School — led by New Leader Greg Dohmann — The Washington Post examines the positive culture and academic progress at the school.

March 2017

A New York Times column examines how Chicago’s investment in strong school leadership has been key to the city’s academic progress, and highlights Kenwood Academy High School, originally turned around by New Leader Liz Kirby.

March 2017

Innovate Public Schools profiles New Leaders Eric and Katherine Acosta-Verprauskus—a husband and wife who are successfully raising achievement at two high-need schools in Richmond, California. A follow-up article examines their approach in more detail.

February 2017

To learn what works in turning around schools, Tennessee has conducted case studies of ten schools that are no longer in the bottom 5 percent in the state, including three Memphis New Leader schools: Ford Road Elementary, Hamilton Middle School, and Treadwell Middle School, reports Chalkbeat Tennessee.

February 2017

In a profile of Shelby County Schools Chief of Schools Sharon Griffin in Education Week’s Leaders to Learn From, New Leader Monekea Smith is cited for raising graduation rates at Hamilton High School from 49 to 73 percent.

February 2017

After Secretary DeVos’ first post-appointment visit to a public school (Jefferson Middle School, led by New Leader Greg Dohmann), the school lauds its teachers in a “tweetstorm,” and D.C. Chancellor Antwan Wilson offers praise for Jefferson and its staff, reports The Washington Post.

February 2017

In the Washington Times, New Leader Daniela Anello discusses her school’s support of the “Day Without Immigrants” protest, in which several of her teachers participated.

February 2017

In a statement following her first visit to a public school as U.S. Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos praises New Leader-led Jefferson Middle School Academy as a “public middle school on the rise and a great example of the successful collaborative innovations occurring within the D.C. Public Schools system.”

February 2017

The kick-off of Washington, D.C.’s “Education Week” takes place at New Leader-led DC Bilingual Public Charter School and principal Daniella Anello is interviewed by NBC. A video of the event is here.

January 2017

NY1 reports on how CASA Middle School in the Bronx — led by New Leader Jamaal Bowman — celebrates black history year round.

January 2017

Education Weekinterviews New Leader principal Nadia Lopez about how to build a successful school.

January 2017

Teach901 features a video profile of New Leader Archie Moss and his work as principal at Bruce Elementary School in Memphis.

January 2017

In an article about improving principal preparation, Education Week examines how New Leaders has been able to quickly adapt its model to respond to new challenges and lessons learned.

January 2017

Dr. Carol Johnson, New Leaders’ Regional Executive Director of Programs for the South, is interviewed on The Funky Politics about our role helping to transform some of Memphis’ highest-need schools (starting at 37:00).

The Jackson Sun reports on Tennessee’s plans for turning around schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act and cites New Leader principal Rodney Rowan’s work turning around two iZone schools in Memphis.

2016

December 2016

New Leader principal Nadia Lopez is interviewed on PBS Newshour about her work with high-need kids in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Westhaven Elementary, led by New Leader principal Rodney Rowan, may present a new model for closing schools in Memphis, reports Chalkbeat Tennessee.

December 2016

The 74 Million interviews New Leaders’ co-founder Benjamin Fenton about opportunities to invest in strong leadership through the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as the practices of highly effective principals outlined in our book Breakthrough Principals.

December 2016

New Leader Nakia Haskins, principal of Brooklyn Brownstone School in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, NY, is featured in a DNAinfo article examining the benefits of district-charter partnerships.

December 2016

New Leaders’ Chief Policy and Evaluation Officer Jackie Gran talks to Education Week about new resources from RAND Corporation and CCSSO designed to help states use the Every Student Succeeds Act to strengthen school leadership.

The Amsterdam News features Mott Haven Academy Charter School, led by New Leader Jessica Nauiokas, as a national model for ensuring that children in the foster care system get an outstanding education.

November 2016

DNAinfo.com profiles New Leader Principal Fabayo McIntosh-Gordon, who is inspiring students and building young leaders at Brighter Choice Community School in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

November 2016

The Jersey Journal reports on New Leader Chris Gasden’s upset victory to win a City Council seat in Jersey City.

November 2016

The Rivard Report highlights a $2 million donation from H-E-B to the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Foundation to fund implementation of New Leaders’ Aspiring Principals program.

November 2016

In Take Part, New Leader Joe Manko discusses his comprehensive approach — from field trips to iPads — to meeting student needs at Liberty Elementary School in West Baltimore.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal and WMC Action News 5 celebrate the selection of New Leader Docia Generette-Walker as 2016 Principal of the Year for the state of Tennessee, acknowledging her remarkable leadership of Middle College High School, which won a National Blue Ribbon Award and was the only school statewide to be ranked in the top 5 percent for both progress and performance. New Leader Andy Demster is assistant principal at the school.

The Washington Post celebrated New Leader Maisha Riddlesprigger for large gains on PARCC testing at Ketcham Elementary School, which serves many high-need students.

October 2016

Innovate Public Schools named seven New Leader schools to its “Top Performing Bay Area Schools of 2016” list, which recognizes schools where underserved students outperform the average for all California students: Voices College-Bound Language Academy; Impact Academy of Arts & Technology; Leadership Public Schools Hayward & Richmond; Montalvin Manor Elementary, Oakland Unity High School, and Richmond College Prep.

October 2016

Newsweek highlights New Leader Tifini Stewart — principal of Robert Coleman Elementary School — for using yoga and meditation to improve behavior rather than suspending disruptive students.

The New York Times featured Polaris Charter Academy, led by New Leaders Michelle Navarre and Roel Vivet, in an article highlighting schools that have succeeded in harnessing teenage “defiance” in service of good causes.

September 2016

New Leader Kimberly Henderson, wrote an op-ed for The Chicago Tribune, sharing her success in involving black men in the community to support student success at Oglesby Elementary School.

September 2016

In the Memphis Daily News, New Leaders’ Regional Executive Director Carol Johnson weighs in on a new effort to evaluate the educational impact of after-school and summer programming in Memphis.

In the Gotham Gazette, New Leader Kevin Bryant discusses his plans for Automotive High School as its newly appointed principal.

September 2016

The Chicago Sun-Timeshighlighted Spry High School and East Garfield Park School, led by New Leaders Francisco Borras and Patrick McGill, respectively, as open-enrollment high schools with graduation rates above 90 percent, besting even some of the city’s selective schools.

August 2016

In Real Simple, New Leader principal Nadia Lopez advises parents about how they can start the year well with their child’s teacher.

Education Next explores the benefits of home visits, featuring a program spearheaded by New Leader Rena Johnson, principal of DC Scholars Stanton Elementary.

New Leader Jessica Nauiokas is featured in a new book about the history of early charter school leaders, The Founders, and is interviewed in a video series accompanying the book.

August 2016

In Education Week, New Leaders CEO Jean Desravines praises the U.S. Department of Education for elevating principal voice through its selection of 2016-17 Principal Ambassador Fellows, including New Leader principal Dana Nerenberg.

August 2016

In Education Week, New Leaders’ Chief Policy and Evaluation Officer Jackie Gran discusses how high-quality leadership development programs provide a strong return on investment for districts.

New Leader principal Jessica Nauiokas discusses how schools can support students in foster care on the U.S. Department of Education’s Homeroom blog.

June 2016

New Leader Nadia Lopez is featured on NY1 to discuss her new book, Bridge to Brilliance: How One Principal in a Tough Community Is Inspiring the World.

June 2016

The Richmond Standard reports on a celebration at Montalvin Manor Elementary School — led by New Leader Katherine Acosta-Verprauskus — in the wake of its designation as a California Gold Ribbon school for outstanding achievement.

June 2016

In The Washington Post, New Leader Wayne Bevis is cited for raising graduation rates at Chicago’s Lindblom Math and Science Academy by focusing on attendance and course grades among ninth graders.

June 2016

Shelby County Schools names New Leader Docia Generette-Walker as 2016 Principal of the Year, celebrating her successful leadership of Middle College High School, which won a National Blue Ribbon Award and was the only Tennessee school in the top 5 percent for both progress and performance. New Leader Andy Demster is assistant principal at the school.

June 2016

Education Week interviews New Leaders co-founder Ben Fenton about the actions and characteristics of top principals, described in New Leaders’ new book, Breakthrough Principals.

May 2016

New Leader Josie Carbone is profiled in Hunters Point Express, with mention of her inclusion as an exemplary principal in New Leaders’ book Breakthrough Principals.

May 2016

New Leader Michelle Navarre & students from Polaris Academy are interviewed about their school’s innovative curriculum on WGN Radio.

May 2016

The Hechinger Report examines our Principal Supervisor program in Oakland, exploring how it is bolstering instructional leadership skills among district leaders.

May 2016

The Atlantic examines how schools cultivate resilience in students, and features New Leader-led Polaris Charter Academy.

May 2016

CBS SF Bay Area reports on the region’s top 15 schools for low-income students, including New Leader-led Leadership Public Schools-Hayward, Impact Academy for Technology and Arts, and Montalvin Manor Elementary School.

May 2016

Scholastic Magazine examines student-centered learning and portfolio assessment at Impact Academy of Arts and Technology, led by New Leader Sean McClung.

April 2016

New Jersey Village Green features People’s Prep Charter school in Newark, which has seen 84 percent of its first graduating class enroll in college this year and is led by New Leader Jessica Rooney.

April 2016

The 74 Million reports on New Leader Resident Principal Archie Moss and his “Gentleman’s League” at Bellevue Middle School.

April 2016

The Boston Globe cites D.C.’s Beers Elementary, led by New Leader principal Gwendolyn Payton, for its strong and innovative family engagement program.

The Tennessean discusses a new Vanderbilt study finding significant gains for Memphis iZone schools–almost two thirds of which were led by New Leaders-trained principals at the time of the study–and profiles New Leader iZone principal Rodney Rowan.

New Leaders Executive Director Carol Johnson interviewed about New Leaders’ work in Memphis on News Radio 600 WREC.

February 2016

In an article for English Leadership Quarterly, New Leaders co-founder Ben Fenton describes how a teacher leader participating in Emerging Leaders was able to help her team of 9th grade English teachers significantly advance student achievement.

January 2016

In an article for the State Education Standard, New Leaders co-founder Ben Fenton describes what states can do to ensure principal evaluation systems result in real instructional improvement across schools and districts.

January 2016

Catalyst Chicago reports that a working group, including New Leaders’ Executive Director-Midwest Ana Martinez, has released recommendations to Chicago Public Schools for developing a strong school leadership pipeline.

In an op-ed for the Commercial Appeal, principal Rodney Rowan argues that the strong preparation many Memphis principals have received through New Leaders has been key to turning around the city’s lowest performing schools.

January 2016

In an op-ed for WNYC, New Leader principal David O’Hara describes how cultivation of teacher leadership has been central to teacher commitment and academic growth at his school.

2015

December 2015

New Leader principal Nadia Lopez nominated for the $1 million Global Teacher Prize, reports the New York Daily News.

December 2015

In a Commercial Appeal op-ed celebrating the successes of the Tennessee Achievement School District, state commissioner Chris Barbic highlights Whitney Achievement Elementary, led by New Leader Debra Broughton.

December 2015

A new Vanderbilt study finds that Memphis iZone schools, almost two thirds of which are led by New Leaders-trained principals, are achieving significant academic gains, reports Chalkbeat Tennessee.

November 2015

Hyde Park Herald recognizes New Leader-led Lincoln Park High School as one of only two open enrollment high schools in Chicago to receive a 1+ rating. The other high school was formerly led by a New Leader.

November 2015

News4Jax examines Duval County Public Schools’ partnership with New Leaders’ Emerging Leaders program to train assistant principals.

November 2015

In The 74 Million, Richard Whitmire heralds Mott Haven Academy Charter School—led by New Leader principal Jessica Naioukas—for its innovative work with children in the child welfare system.

November 2015

WNYC’s The Takeaway examines how New Leader principal David O’Hara is implementing a restorative justice approach to discipline at Leaders High School (starts at 5:26).

October 2015

Chalkbeat Tennessee reports on U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s visit to Memphis iZone schools, and his meeting with New Leader and iZone principal Rodney Rowan.

October 2015

WJLA-DC examines a home visiting initiative that has boosted attendance and family engagement at Stanton Elementary School in DC, led by New Leader principal Rena Johnson

October 2015

The Ellen Generes Show surprises New Leader Debra Broughton and her staff at Whitney Elementary with a $50,000 gift for their dedication to students.

October 2015

In Education Post, Chief Program Officer Jaime Aquino argues that more educators need to reflect the communities they serve, drawing on New Leaders’ experience to show that we can diversify and strengthen our education workforce at the same time.

Commercial Appeal profiles Middle College High School where New Leader principal Docia Generette and assistant principal Andy Demster have created a culture where it’s cool to be smart; an editorial continues the discussion.

October 2015

In Education Week, New Leaders’ CEO Jean Desravines reacts to the resignation of Secretary Arne Duncan, commending his recognition of the key role of school leadership in raising outcomes for disadvantaged students.

October 2015

The Today Show celebrates New Leader principal Debra Broughton and her staff at Whitney Achievement Elementary School, who walk students home every day and bring them meals on snow days.

September 2015

New Leader Executive Director Kareem Weaver is celebrated as a local hero on Oakland blog Educate78.

NPR Weekend Edition profiles New Leader Jessica Nauiokas, the founding principal of Haven Academy in the South Bronx, the first school in the nation dedicated to serving students in the child welfare system.

Chicago’s Polaris Charter Academy, led by New Leaders Michelle Navarre and Roel Vivet, featured in Think It Up, a documentary about innovative schools that aired on NBC, CBS and ABC. (segment starts around 8:57)

Bronx News 11 features New Leader Jamaal Bowman, principal of C.A.S.A. Middle School in the Bronx, who led the largest gains in 2014-2015 of all district middle schools in New York City.

August 2015

The U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made a surprise call to New Leader Josie Carbone, principal of Girls Prep Charter School in the Bronx, to congratulate her for high test scores, the New York Daily News reports.

The Atlantic visits New Leader principal Nadia Lopez and her school Mott Hall Bridges Academy following of a viral Humans of New York story featuring her student Vidal Chastanet.

February 2015

PBS Newshour interviews New Leader principal Nadia Lopez about what it takes to make a difference for kids in Brownsville.

February 2015

The White House blog features a meeting between President Obama, New Leader principal Nadia Lopez, and her student Vidal Chastanet, after their story on Humans of New York captured the world’s attention.

2014

October 2014

In an op-ed for ozy.com, New Leaders’ Chief Executive Officer Jean Desravines makes the case for why principals should be treated like CEOs.

2013

New Leaders’ co-founder Ben Fenton participates in a Fordham Institute panel on how state policy initiatives can increase the number of highly effective principals.

September 2013

PBS Newshour features New Leaders in a story about innovative approaches to raising principal quality in Chicago.

April 2013

In Philanthropy Magazine, Philanthropy Roundtable president Adam Meyerson celebrates philanthropic investments in better methods for recruiting and training educators, including New Leaders.

February 2013

In Education Week, New Leaders co-founder Ben Fenton highlights the need to train principals to be “leaders of leaders.”

January 2013

In The New York Times, New Leaders’ CEO Jean Desravines shares his personal story and describes how it inspired him to dedicate his career to improving educational opportunities for students growing up in poverty.

2012

On an NBC Education Nation panel, Cami Anderson, superintendent of Newark Public Schools, and Kaya Henderson, Superintendent of D.C. Public Schools, cite the outstanding contributions of two New Leader principals.

April 2012

New Leaders is featured as an innovative program in The BCF Edge, a publication of the Baltimore Community Foundation.

April 2012

The U.S. Department of Education Homeroom blog profiles New Leader Jose Rico, newly appointed Executive Director for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

March 2012

The U.S. Department of Education Homeroom blog profiles New Leader Delia Davis-Dyke, assistant principal at Kramer Middle School in Washington, D.C.

January 2012

New Leader CEO Jean Desravines speaks on the urgent need for school improvement and the theory of action behind New Leaders’ focus on school leadership at Charlotte’s Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum (Part 1 & Part 2).

2011

December 2011

Baltimore Magazine describes New Leaders’ impact in the city and profiles New Leader principal Stacey Place.

December 2011

New Leader principal Misha Simmonds, selected as Playworks’ Most Valuable Player, is interviewed about his leadership at University Heights Charter School.

November 2011

Forbes names New Leaders CEO Jean Desravines as one of the nation’s top social entrepreneurs

November 2011

NBC News spotlights Alonzo Tabron and Malcolm Ware, students who attend New Leaders-led Friendship Public Charter School and will be mentored by President Obama.

September 2011

The New York Times describes Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson’s partnership with New Leaders to build the district’s principal pipeline.

September 2011

New Leader Nicole Warner is a panelist on NBC’s Education Nation, discussing how U.S. students and schools compare to those in other countries.

August 2011

The New York Times talks with New Leader principal Eric Blake about how he is teaching one of his school’s English classes to mitigate staff reductions in the face of budget cuts.

The New York Daily News celebrates Brooklyn’s Brighter Choice Community School, led by New Leader Fabayo McIntosh, for gains on state reading exams.

July 2011

An op-ed in the Commercial Appeal celebrates New Leaders’ success turning around underperforming Memphis schools.

June 2011

Local Talk News profiles New Leader Jessica Rooney, one of only 12 recipients of a federal charter school program start-up grant which she will use to open People’s Preparatory Charter School in Newark.

May 2011

District Administration highlights New Leaders as an innovative approach to training principals for low-performing schools.

May 2011

SF Gate examines how New Leader principal Adam Taylor successfully reduced chronic attrition at his school from 20 percent to 7 percent.

April 2011

Washington Post examines the scarcity of strong candidates for charter school principal vacancies and highlights New Leaders as a solution.

April 2011

East Bay Times profiles New Leader principal Kareem Weaver and his success raising achievement at Lazear Elementary School.

2009

2017

New Leaders released a statement on the Trump Administration’s announcement to end the Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

September 2017

New Leaders released a statement on the FY2018 Senate Appropriations Committee approval of its fiscal year 2018 spending bill.

July 2017

New Leaders released a statement on the FY2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill.

May 2017

In a statement, New Leaders thanks a congressional coalition, led by Senator Al Franken with Senator Tom Carper, for supporting robust funding for the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program (Title II, Part A) and the School Leader Recruitment and Support Program (SLRSP).

May 2017

New Leaders released a statement on the President’s FY18 budget request.

May 2017

New Leaders and five school leader and educator groups released a statement opposing the Trump Administration’s proposed FY18 appropriations cuts.

May 2017

New Leaders released a statement on the final FY17 Appropriations compromise released today by Congress.

April 2017

New Leaders released a statement commending a bipartisan congressional coalition for calling for robust funding for the School Leader Recruitment and Support Program (SLRSP).

April 2017

In two letters to Congress, coalitions of organizations, educators, and advocates call for strong funding for the School Leader Recruitment and Support Program (SLRSP) and to fully fund the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants program (Title II, Part A) in SY18.

New Leaders releases a statement responding to the Trump Administration’s “skinny” budget for FY18, which includes $9 Billion in requested cuts to education.

March 2017

New Leaders has submitted written testimony calling on Congress to solidify its support for school leaders by making meaningful investments in programs and funding streams that help ensure schools are led by effective principals.

2016

New Leaders joined 20 organizations and nearly 100 educators from across the country in submitting a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, HHS, Education & Related Agencies to provide meaningful investments in programs that will support teachers and principals in creating schools where all students can succeed.

2015

New Leaders joins AFSA, NAESP and NASSP in applauding the U.S. Department of Education’s “Shadow a Principal” initiative, designed to help federal officials better understand the support that principals need.